Managing air flow

ABSTRACT

Enclosure assemblies for managing air flow. Such assemblies include an enclosure and at least one inclined pathway in contact with the enclosure, each pathway including a pair of side wall portions and a top wall portion that collectively extend between spaced apart openings to define an air mass. One opening having a lower boundary and the other opening having an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary, such that when a temperature differential exists within a given pathway, warmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and above the upper boundary, thereby impeding air flow from the enclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/845,741, filed on Dec. 18, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/303,985, filed on Jun. 13, 2014, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/695,061, filed on Jan. 27,2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/148,014, filed on Jan. 28, 2009. The disclosures of said applicationsare incorporated by reference as if fully recited herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to entranceways.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Most warehouses, manufacturing facilities and large retail storesinclude loading docks that provide a location for loading and unloadingvehicles. Further, some of these enclosures have various pedestrianentranceways to allow employees and customers to come and go. Innorthern climates, one area of concern is excessive heat loss in thewinter months in loading docks and pedestrian entranceways. One means ofaddressing this concern is the control of air flow.

One common approach has been to employ an air curtain across a door. Anair curtain is a forced flow of relatively high-velocity air across theopening of a door serving either to restrict the normal air exchangeresulting from the temperature differential or to mix and dilute any airwhich does pass through the air curtain.

Another approach to controlling air flow is the installation of aphysical barrier. One example is a strip door that is widely used torestrict the flow of air through an open warehouse door. Such a stripdoor employs transparent vinyl strips which enable personnel andvehicles to push through. The strips quickly fall back into place to actas the air flow barrier when the obstruction has cleared the door.

It would be desirable to provide an enhanced entranceway.

SUMMARY OF THE GENERAL INVENTIVE CONCEPT

It should be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms“connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein areused broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings,and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” andvariations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings. Furthermore, and as described in subsequentparagraphs, the specific mechanical, electrical or other configurationsillustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of theinvention. However, other alternative mechanical, electrical or otherconfigurations are possible which are considered to be within theteachings of the instant disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwiseindicated, the term “or” is to be considered inclusive. The term “agent”is intended to include a portion of or any combination of hardware,firmware or software to carry out a prescribed function.

In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a vehicle entranceway toan enclosure. The entranceway comprises a frame including a pair oflaterally-spaced side wall portions and a top wall portion. The frame isadapted to be in contact with an exterior wall of the enclosure and insurrounding relation to a first opening therein. The side wall portionsextend outwardly from the exterior wall on opposite sides of an inclinedpathway. The inclined pathway and said side and top wall portionscooperate to define a second opening distally located to the exteriorwall. The first opening has a lower boundary and the second opening hasan upper boundary. The lower boundary is at an elevation higher thanthat of the upper boundary. Thus, in the presence of a temperaturedifferential within the vehicle entranceway, warmer air is trapped in anupper portion of the vehicle entranceway and above the upper boundary.

An exemplary embodiment further comprises a blower to increase air flowacross and/or along an air barrier layer within the enclosure. In thiscase, the blower may be provided with a heat source for conditioning theair barrier layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a vehicle entrancewayfurther comprising a heat source being associated with a blower forcontinuously circulating warm air within the vehicle entranceway. In oneexample the heat source originates from the inside of the enclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a vehicle entrancewayfurther comprising at least one vent to egress fumes and/or to ingressfresh air. In this case, the at least one vent being located in the topwall portion.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for managingair flow from a first opening of an enclosure comprising the steps of,

-   -   providing a frame including a pair of laterally-spaced side wall        portions and a top wall portion,    -   providing the frame to be mounted in contact with an exterior        wall of the enclosure and in surrounding relation to the first        opening, the side wall portions to extend outwardly from the        exterior wall,    -   providing the side, top wall portions and a pathway to cooperate        to define a second opening projecting from the exterior wall and        to create a cavity within, and    -   providing the first opening with a lower boundary and the second        opening with an upper boundary wherein the upper boundary is at        an elevation lower than a corresponding lower boundary on the        first opening, wherein warmer air in the cavity is trapped in an        upper portion of the cavity and above the upper boundary to        impede air flow from the enclosure.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided an entranceway to anenclosure for managing air flow from at least one first opening of anenclosure comprising a frame being adapted to be in contact with anexterior wall of the enclosure and including a pair of laterally-spacedside wall portions, a top wall portion, an inclined pathway, and asecond opening distally located to the exterior wall, the inclinedpathway together with said side and top wall portions sealablycooperating to define an air mass, the first opening having a lowerboundary and the second opening having an upper boundary, the lowerboundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundarywherein, when there is a temperature differential within the entrancewaywarmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and abovethe upper boundary to impede air flow from the enclosure.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a vehicleentranceway for managing air flow from a first opening of an enclosurecomprising a frame including a pair of laterally-spaced side wallportions and a top wall portion, said frame being adapted to be mountedin contact with an exterior wall of the enclosure and in surroundingrelation to the first opening, said side wall portions extendingoutwardly from the exterior wall, said side and top wall portionscooperating to define a second opening projecting from the exterior walland to create a cavity within the vehicle entranceway, the first openinghaving a lower boundary and the second opening having an upper boundarywherein the lower boundary is at an elevation higher than that of theupper boundary, wherein when there is a temperature differential withinthe vehicle entranceway warmer air will be trapped in an upper portionof the cavity and above the upper boundary to impede air flow from theenclosure.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a shelter apparatusfor controlling air flow from a door opening of an enclosure comprisinga frame including a pair of laterally-spaced side panels and a toppanel, said frame being adapted to be mounted in contact with anexterior wall of the enclosure and in a surrounding relation to the dooropening, said side panels extending outwardly from the exterior wall inrelation with an inclined pathway to create a cavity, said side and toppanels cooperating to define an air pocket within the cavity with aboundary region at an elevation between the door openings.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided an entrancewayapparatus for controlling air flow from a door opening of an enclosurecomprising a frame including a pair of laterally-spaced side panels anda top panel, said frame being adapted to be mounted in contact with anexterior wall of the enclosure and in surrounding relation to the dooropening, an inclined pathway and said side panels extending outwardlyfrom the exterior wall, said side and top panels cooperating to definean opening projecting from the exterior wall at an elevation operable tocreate an air barrier with a boundary region at an elevation between thedoor openings to impede the air flow through the entranceway.

In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a vehicle entrancewaystructure for attachment to an enclosure, comprising a frame including apair of laterally-spaced side wall portions and a top wall portion, saidframe being adapted to be in contact with an exterior wall of theenclosure and in surrounding relation to a first opening therein, saidside wall portions extending outwardly from the exterior wall, aninclined pathway and said side and top wall portions cooperating todefine a second opening distally located to the exterior wall, the firstopening having a lower boundary and the second opening having an upperboundary, the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that ofthe upper boundary, the pathway having an upper surface, the side wallportions and top wall portions cooperating with the pathway to form acavity with an operative boundary region capable of maintaining a massof air therein at a temperature higher than ambient air external to theenclosure with the mass occupying a volume whose lower boundary liesbelow the lower boundary of the first opening and above the upperboundary of the second opening, with or without an auxiliary source ofheated air being delivered to the cavity.

In an exemplary embodiment, the side wall and top wall portions includea first layer for establishing the operative boundary region and asecond insulating layer for insulating the operative boundary region. Inthis case, the first and second layer including one or more substratesformed of plastic, wood, metal, glass, concrete or a combinationthereof.

In an exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary heat source includes a duct incommunication with the enclosure and/or a heat source within theenclosure to deliver heated air therefrom to the cavity.

In an exemplary embodiment, the side wall and top wall portions have anR value ranging from 0.1 to 70. In this case, the vehicle entrance waystructure R value ranges from 1 to 45.

An exemplary embodiment further comprises an auxiliary source of heatedair being delivered to the cavity. In this case, the auxiliary source ofheated air being located at an intermediate region adjacent to the lowerboundary. In another case, the auxiliary source of heat including a fanor blower for delivering a flow of air at an elevation between the upperand lower boundaries. In some cases, the auxiliary heat source includinga duct in communication with the enclosure and/or a heat source withinthe enclosure to deliver heated air therefrom to the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be provided,by way of examples only, with reference to the appended drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of an entranceway of enclosure;

FIGS. 1a and 1b are side cross sectional views of an entranceway with avehicle;

FIG. 1c is a side cross sectional view of a portion of the entrancewayand a blower;

FIGS. 1d and 1e is a top perspective view of the entranceway of theenclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the entranceway of theenclosure with a pedestrian; and

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the two entranceways of anenclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the figures, there is provided an entranceway 10 to anenclosure 12 having a first opening 14. The entranceway has a frame 16including a pair of laterally-spaced side wall portions 18 and a topwall portion 20. The frame 16 is adapted to be in contact with anexterior wall 22 of the enclosure 12 and in surrounding relation to thefirst opening 14. The side wall portions 18 extend outwardly from theexterior wall 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, there is aninclined pathway 24 that, in cooperation with the side and top wallportions 18 and 20, defines a second opening 26 that is distally locatedto the exterior wall 22. The first opening 14 has a lower boundary 28and the second opening 26 has an upper boundary 30. The lower boundary28 is at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary 30. As willbe discussed, when there is a temperature differential within theentranceway 10, the warmer air will be trapped, or otherwise contained,in an upper portion 32 of the entranceway 10 and above the upperboundary 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 1b , the pathway 24 may have at least one portionwhich is inclined, that is by having a distal inclined portion adjacentthe second opening 26 and a substantially horizontal (or non-inclined)portion adjacent the first opening 14. However, the converse may also beused in other cases as desired. FIG. 2 illustrates another example whichemploys two inclined portions joined by an individual horizontalportion.

The frame 16 may be constructed of steel or other suitable materials.The frame 16 may be a retrofit to an existing enclosure and may be soldas a kit (to be discussed later) or may be incorporated in theconstruction of a new enclosure. The side and top wall portions 18 and20, in this example, may be provided with a level or grade (such as an Rvalue) of insulation that provides adequate insulation. Generally, thegreater the R value of insulation, the greater the ability of theenclosure to function in its role as a trap for warm air. In otherwords, the greater the control or reduction of heat dissipation, thegreater the operating efficiency of the entrance way in its function totrap or contain warm air. This may be particularly the case where theentranceway is exposed to the relatively cold environments, such asduring the winter months, presenting a large temperature differentialbetween the trapped warm air inside the enclosure and the exteriorambient air. Thus, in one example, one or more of the side wall and topwall portions may have an R value ranging from 0.1 to 70. In anotherexample, one or more of the side wall and top wall portions may have anR value ranging from 1 to 45. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a firstlayer 50 for establishing an operating boundary layer and a secondinsulating layer 52 may be provided. The first and second layers 50 and52, respectively may each be comprised of wood, glass, concrete orcombinations thereof so as to provide protection from the elements andinsulation.

As shown in FIG. 1d , each entranceway has a single opening in theenclosure. However, as illustrated in FIG. 1e , the enclosure may haveseveral first openings 14 (for example to provide access to neighbouringloading docks). Further, the second opening 26 may be of a reduced widthrelative to the laterally-spaced side wall portions.

The inclined pathway 24 and the side and top wall portions 18 and 20cooperate to form a cavity 34 within the entranceway 10 to define an airmass 36 therein.

In this case, the top wall portion 20 may be formed with a flat, domed,A-framed or other configuration, provided that it provides, with theside wall portions, the cavity 34 in a form to effectively receive andcontain the air mass 36. As illustrated in FIG. 1 at 38, an air barrierlayer may be created between a relatively warmer air region 40 and arelatively cooler air region 42. In this case, the inclined pathway 24may include a prepared or unprepared ground surface, a layer of concreteand/or other building materials, and may also be formed to provide alevel of insulation in order to moderate the relatively cooler airregion 42, thus lowering the temperature differential between therelatively warmer air region 40 and the relatively cooler air region 42.While not intending to be bound to any one particular operatingconfiguration, the enclosure in one example, may be considered to beworking effectively with a relatively warmer air region 40 when beingmaintained at a temperature ranging from 29.8 to 42.0 degree Celsiuswhen the relatively cooler air region 42 has a temperature ranging from21.6 to 28.2 degree Celsius, with the exterior ambient air outside theenclosure at a temperature ranging from 16.8 to 17.1 degree Celsius. Aswith any gas, air contains molecules that move or agitate. This movementor agitation becomes greater as the temperature rises and the moleculesoccupy more space. This causes the mass of the air to expand. Althoughthe total mass of the air has not changed, it occupies a greater volume,so any given cubic area will be lighter. Thus the air barrier layer 38,in dead calm conditions, may be generally horizontal. However, the airbarrier layer 38 may bend or fluctuate away from the static horizontalposition shown.

It should be borne in mind that the air barrier layer, in this case, mayonly be identifiable by a relatively sharp temperature transitionbetween the warmer and cooler air regions 40 and 42, such as atemperature transition of 10 to 20 degrees Celsius over the distance ofabout 6 to about 18 inches, for instance. As illustrated in FIG. 1, theair barrier layer 38 may not occupy a discrete region but may representinstead a transition zone between the relatively warmer air region 40and the relatively cooler air region 42.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 1 a and 1 b, the pathway 24 may be used forvehicular, pedestrian and/or wheelchair use. Other uses have beencontemplated, for example in manufacturing wherein the pathway may be aconveyor or an assembly line, as shown in FIG. 3. For example, thepathway may travel through a heated enclosure having a first entrancewayleading into the enclosure and a second entranceway leading out. Theheated air mass is trapped within the cavity created by the side and topwall portions of each entranceway.

Now referring to FIG. 1c , the enclosure may be provided with one ormore blowers, one of which is shown at 44 to increase air flow across oralong the air barrier layer 38. In this example, the blower 44 isassociated with the enclosure 12 just under the lower boundary 28 of thefirst opening 14. In another configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, theblower 44 (in this case in a group of blowers) may be perpendicular tothe pathway 24 and thus blowing in a sideways direction rather thanlengthwise as is the case with the blower 44 in FIG. 1c . In yet anotherexample, the blower may work in conjunction with, or be replaced by, aheat source for conditioning the air mass. In the example of FIG. 1c ,the heat source 46 is provided in the form of a number of heat ducts 46,and is associated with blower 44 for continuously circulating warm air40 within the entranceway 10 to enhance the air barrier layer 38. Theheat source 46 may be, for example, a natural gas heater, or otherfossil fuel or electric heater, and is associated with the entranceway.Alternatively, the heat source may be provided in the form of a duct incommunication with an interior space of the enclosure or another heatsource inside the enclosure for drawing warm air from the enclosure tothe warmer air region. Another example for providing a heat source 46for the entranceway 10 may be to heat the pathway 24 or a portion of thepathway 24, by way of radiant heating circuits, such as by electrical orcirculating heating fluid for instance.

As illustrated in FIG. 1b , there may be provided at least one ventingunit 48 to remove fumes from inside the cavity 34 and/or to draw infresh air thereto. In this example, the venting unit 48 is located inthe top wall portion 20. There may also be a venting unit for use in thesummer months to regulate the temperature differential within theentranceway. Further, there may be an additional trap with a vent forfumes as illustrated in FIG. 1b at 49.

There may also be provided, a kit or combination of parts forretrofitting an entranceway to an enclosure. The kit or combination ofparts may include a frame comprising a pair of laterally-spaced sidewall portions and a top wall portion. The kit may also include fastenersfor assembly of the frame and/or attachment of the frame to an exteriorwall of the enclosure in a surrounding relation to the first opening.The side wall portions are assembled in an outwardly extending fashionfrom the exterior wall. In this case, the walls may either cover anexisting inclined pathway or a pathway may be constructed so that theupper boundary 30 of the second opening is below the lower boundary 28of the first opening 14. The kit may further include one or more heatsources, fans and/or vents or the like.

The entranceway manages air flow by providing a cavity created by a pairof laterally-spaced side wall portions and a top wall portion. The sidewall portions extend outwardly from the exterior wall and, with the topwall portions, cooperate to define a second opening projecting from theexterior wall. The second opening is arranged so that its upper boundaryis at a lower elevation than the corresponding lower boundary of thefirst opening. In the presence of a temperature differential within theentranceway, relatively warmer air is trapped in an upper portion of thecavity and above the upper boundary. When relatively warmer air is foundwithin the cavity and above the upper boundary and at a temperaturewhich is equal to or greater than the air inside the enclosure, air flowfrom the enclosure to the cavity through the first opening shouldgenerally be impeded, or at least reduced, while allowing the first andsecond openings to indeed remain open. In this instance, the relativelywarmer air may itself have a temperature differential between the airbarrier layer and the inside surface of the wall and roof portions. Theentranceway is believed to provide maximum benefit when the temperatureof the relatively warmer air in the warmer air region 40 is equal to orgreater than the air inside the enclosure, as aided, in one example, bythe use of blowers or heating ducts. Meanwhile, there may also bebeneficial effects when the temperature of the relatively warmer air isbelow the temperature of the air inside the enclosure. The blowers mayprovide the benefit of reducing the temperature differential byconstantly mixing the relatively warmer air while the heat source maythus function to add heated air to overcome air leakage or heat loss asthe case may be. The speed or interval of operation of the blowers andthe heat sources may also be adjusted according to the changingtemperatures of the exterior ambient air, wind conditions of theexterior ambient air, and the temperatures of the relatively warmer airregion and the relatively cooler air region, that is on either side ofthe transition zone.

Another benefit of the entrance way may lie in the fact that thetransition zone is above the upper boundary of the second opening andbelow the lower boundary of the first opening, thereby reducing air flowat both the first and second openings. This may be especially relevantat the second opening if the blowers and/or heat sources are configuredto provide only sufficient air movement and heat to maintain arelatively stable and even temperature throughout the relatively warmerair region while reducing the growth of the mass of the relativelywarmer air region so that it does not migrate downwardly and induce analternate escape route for the relatively warmer air at the secondopening as shown by the dashed arrow E in FIG. 1.

Further features of exemplary entranceway embodiments according to theinvention may be found in the reference materials submitted as “Appendixto the Specification”.

While the present invention has been described for what are presentlyconsidered the preferred embodiments, the invention is not so limited.To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An external entranceway to an enclosure, theenclosure having an interior space with a heat source to provide warmair thereto, the entranceway comprising a frame including a pair oflaterally-spaced side wall portions and a top wall portion, said framebeing adapted to be in contact with an exterior wall of the enclosureand in surrounding relation to a first opening therein, said side wallportions extending outwardly from the exterior wall on opposite side ofan inclined pathway, the inclined pathway and said side and top wallportions cooperating to define a second opening distally located to theexterior wall, the first opening having a lower boundary and the secondopening having an upper boundary, the lower boundary being at anelevation higher than that of the upper boundary, wherein, in thepresence of a temperature differential within the entranceway, warmerair is trapped in an upper portion of the entranceway and above theupper boundary.